Container cap

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a container cap allowing the addition of an adjunct. The container cap includes a base cap member, which is a lower cap body coupled to a neck part of a container, an operational cap member, which is an upper cap body coupled to the upper end of the base cap member, and an openable sheet, which is provided on the lower end of one selected from the base cap member and the operational cap member. The openable sheet is able to be cut to discharge the adjunct. The container cap further includes a cutting means for cutting the openable sheet. The cutting means is provided in a remaining one selected from the base cap member and the operational cap member at a position corresponding to the openable sheet. The openable sheet includes a weight member, which has a diameter less than a diameter of an arc part of the openable sheet to be cut. A connection rib is connected between the weight member and a lower edge of an adjunct receiving part of the base cap member. The openable sheet further includes an openable sealing film, which seals both the lower edge of the adjunct receiving part and the weight member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to container caps allowing theaddition of adjuncts and, more particularly, to a container cap, whichincludes a base cap member, which is coupled to an opening of acontainer and has an adjunct receiving part, an operational cap member,which is coupled to the upper end of the base cap member, and anopenable sheet, which is the bottom of the adjunct receiving part andcomprises a weight member having a diameter less than that of theadjunct receiving part and an openable sealing film attached to thelower surface of the weight member and to the open lower end of theadjunct receiving part.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the case of techniques disclosed in Korean Patent Application Nos.10-2003-023243 and 10-2004-002154, there is inconvenience in which,after a band is removed, a cap is rotated in a clockwise direction todischarge an adjunct and is thereafter rotated in a counterclockwisedirection to open a container. Furthermore, there is a problem in thatthe adjunct can undesirably solidify due to the permeation of moisture,gas pressure or physical action. In addition, there is no separatesecurity band.

In an effort to overcome the above problems, an improved container capwas proposed. In this container cap, two operations of adding an adjunctinto contents and of opening a container are conducted merely byrotating a cap in a counterclockwise direction in a single motion in thesame manner as a method of opening a typical container cap. Furthermore,in this technique, because an agitating shaft and an agitating rod areprovided, even if the adjunct is dried or wet, the adjunct can besmoothly discharged. In addition, even if the container cap isexcessively shaken, leakage is prevented. As well, the container cap isprovided with a separate security band.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of such a container cap.FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the state of the container cap whenit is marketed and sold.

Referring to the drawings, the conventional container cap includes abase cap member 100, which is coupled to an opening of a container andhas an openable film 22 that prevents an adjunct from being undesirablydischarged while the container is distributed and sold, an operationalcap member 300, which is rotatably coupled to the base cap member 100,and an opening means. The opening means includes a cutting blade 3,which is rotated and moved upwards or downwards by the rotation of theoperational cap member 300 to thus cut the openable film 22, and anagitating shaft 4 and a plurality of agitating rods 5, which agitate theadjunct when the operational cap member 300 rotates.

Furthermore, an internal thread 112, which is formed in the base capmember 100, engages with an external thread 12 of the container 13, sothat the contents W1 are prevented from being undesirably dischargedwhile distributed and sold. In addition, the inner surface of the basecap member 100 extends a predetermined length from the inner edge of astep plate 129 in an axial direction, such that the operational capmember 300 is movable upwards or downwards along the adjunct receivingpart while closely contacting the inner surface of the base cap member100. Furthermore, the openable film 22 and an openable film holder 27,which prevent the adjunct W2 from being undesirably discharged whilebeing marketed and sold, are provided on the inner and lower end of thebase cap member 100. A stop step 21 is provided on the upper surface ofthe step plate 129, so that, when the operational cap member 300 ismoved all the way down, the operational cap member 300 is fitted overthe stop step 21 and thus firmly fastened to the base cap member 100.

The operational cap member 300 includes a grip 300B, which is rotatablyprovided on the upper surface of the step plate 129, and an internalthread 328, which engages with an external thread 128 formed on theouter surface of the upper end of the base cap member 100.

Furthermore, the cutting blade 3 of the opening means extends from theinner surface of the operational cap member 300 to the upper surface ofthe openable film 22, which is provided in the lower end of the base capmember 100. The agitating shaft 4 and the agitating rods 5 are providedin the operational cap member 300 such that, when the openable film 22is opened by the cutting blade 3, even if the adjunct W2 is too dry orwet, the adjunct W2 can be easily discharged. The agitating shaft 4 andthe agitating rods 5 are disposed at positions spaced apart from eachother at angles of approximately 60°.

In addition, the agitating shaft 4 is slightly shorter than the cuttingblade 3, and protrudes from the inner surface of the operational capmember 300 towards the center of the operational cap member 300.Preferably, the agitating shaft 4 is integrally formed by injectionmolding. When the operational cap member 300 is rotated and moveddownwards, the agitating shaft 4 agitates the adjunct W2, such as powderor concentrated extract, which has dried out or been wetted, thusdischarging the adjunct W2 more efficiently.

The agitating rods 5 conduct a function similar to that of the agitatingshaft 4. That is, the agitating rods 5, which are rotated and moveddownwards along with the operational cap member 300, extend in an inwardradial direction a greater distance than does the agitating shaft 4,thus increasing the agitation range within which the adjunct, which hasdried out or been wetted, is agitated.

The openable film 22 is increased in thickness from the outer edge tothe center thereof. As such, the outer edge of the openable film 22 isrelatively thin, so that the cutting blade 3 can easily cut the openablefilm 22. When the openable film 22 is cut, the adjunct W2 is easilydischarged along the portion of the openable film 22 which was inclinedby being cut.

The openable film holder 27, which is provided on a portion of theopenable film 22, is located at a position spaced apart from theposition at which the operation of cutting the openable film 22 startsby an angular amount of 330°. Furthermore, the openable film holder 27extends from the center of the openable film 22 to the inner surface ofthe base cap member 100, and is relatively thick and hard. The openablefilm holder 27 serves to prevent the openable film 22 from beingcompletely removed from the base cap member 100. That is, when thecutting blade 3 rotates at 330° and thus cuts the openable film 22, therotation of the operational cam member 300 is stopped by the contact ofthe lower end of the operational cap member 300 with the stop step 21 ofthe base cap member 100. At this time, the openable film holder 27,which is coupled to the inner surface of the base cap member 100,prevents the cut openable film 22 from falling into the container. Thus,when the container cap is removed from the container, the openable film22 is also removed along with the container cap, and thus does notinconvenience the user who drinks the contents.

In detail, to drink the contents mixed with the adjunct W2, the userremoves a security band 6 from the container cap, and thereafter holdsthe grip 300B and rotates the operational cap member 300 in acounterclockwise direction. Then, the operational cap member 300 isrotated and moved downwards and, simultaneously, the cutting blade 3,which is provided on the lower end of the operational cap member 300,cuts the openable film 22, which is provided on the lower end of thebase cap member 100. Thereby, the adjunct is mixed with the contents inthe container. Because the container, such as PP, PET, etc., istransparent, the user can easily observe the mixing of the adjunct W2with the contents W1. At this time, the user generally shakes thecontainer to satisfy his/her impatience, thus accelerating the processof mixing the adjunct W2 with the contents W1. Here, the container capof this technique makes it possible to mix the adjunct W2 with thecontents W1 more stably in the reliably sealed state, compared to theprior container cap structures. Subsequently, the operational cap member300 is brought into contact with the stop step 21, and is fitted overthe stop step 21 such that it is fastened to the base cap member 100.When the operational cap member 300 is rotated further in acounterclockwise direction, the base cap member 100 and the operationalcap member 300 are rotated and moved upwards together. As a result, thecontainer cap is completely removed from the container 13, and the usercan drink the contents mixed with the adjunct.

In addition, because the base cap member 100 is held by the container 13through a base security band 24, the base cap member 100 is preventedfrom being displaced before the operational cap member 300 hascompletely moved downwards. When the base cap member 100 is movedupwards and removed from the container 13, the base security band 24naturally breaks. As such, the base security band 24 of the presentinvention has the same function as that of a conventional security band,which is used for ensuring security.

However, in the conventional container cap described above, because anedge part of the openable film is relatively thin, and because a method,in which the thin edge part of the openable film is cut by rotation ofthe cutting blade of the operational cap member to add the adjunct intothe contents, is used, there is the possibility of the permeation of airor moisture, which dries or wets the adjunct and thus spoils it, throughthe thin edge part of the openable film.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind theabove problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the presentinvention is to provide a container cap in which a weight member and anopenable sealing film, which constitute an openable sheet, are coupledto the lower end of an adjunct receiving part that stores an adjunct,the weight member having a diameter less than that of the adjunctreceiving part, so that superior sealing ability is ensured, and theopenable sheet can be easily cut through a band-shaped space definedbetween the weight member and the adjunct receiving part, and in which,because the weight member and the openable sealing film are integratedwith each other, the openable sealing film is prevented from being cutto shreds, thus enhancing the reliability of the product.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention providesa container cap allowing addition of an adjunct, and including a basecap member, which is a lower cap body coupled to a neck part of acontainer, an operational cap member, which is an upper cap body coupledto an upper end of the base cap member, an openable sheet provided on alower end of one selected from the base cap member and the operationalcap member, the openable sheet being cut to discharge the adjunct, andcutting means for cutting the openable sheet, the cutting means beingprovided in a remaining one selected from the base cap member and theoperational cap member at a position corresponding to the openablesheet, wherein the openable sheet includes: a weight member having adiameter less than a diameter of an arc part of the openable sheet to becut, with a connection rib connected between the weight member and alower edge of an adjunct receiving part of the base cap member; and anopenable sealing film for sealing both the lower edge of the adjunctreceiving part and the weight member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional containercap allowing the addition of an adjunct;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the assembled container cap of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the operation of the container cap ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the operation of the container cap ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a container cap, according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a critical part of the container cap ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a container cap according to thepreferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectionalview of a critical part of the container cap of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the container cap of the present inventionincludes a base cap member 100, which is coupled to an opening of acontainer, an operational cap member 300, which is coupled to the upperend of the base cap member 100 and a cutting blade 3, and an openablesheet, which is the bottom of an adjunct receiving part 77-3. Theopenable sheet includes a weight member 77, which has a diameter lessthan that of an arc part, along which the bottom of the adjunctreceiving part 77-3 is cut, at least one connection rib 77-2, whichconnects the weight member 77 to the lower edge of the adjunct receivingpart 77-3, and an openable sealing film 777, which seals both the loweredge of the adjunct receiving part 77-3 and the weight member 77.

Furthermore, a band-shaped space 77-1 is defined between the lower edgeof the adjunct receiving part 77-3 and the circumferential outer edge ofthe weight member 77, so that the cutting blade 3 of the operational capmember 300 is moved along the band-shaped space 77-1 without resistancewhen a cutting process is conducted.

The connection rib 77-2, which is connected between the lower edge ofthe adjunct receiving part 77-3 and the circumferential outer edge ofthe weight member 77, is provided in the band-shaped space 77-1.

Preferably, the weight member 77 has an appropriate weight such that,when the openable sheet is opened, the weight member is integrallyrotated downwards along with the openable sealing film 777 around theconnection rib 77-2, which serves as a hinge. Of course, because theopenable sealing film 777 is integrated with the weight member 77, theopenable sealing film 777 is prevented from being cut to shreds, therebypreventing part of the openable sealing film 777 from falling into thecontents in the container.

In the present invention having the above-mentioned construction, when auser moves the cutting blade 3, which is integrally coupled to theoperational cap member 300, downwards using the operational cap member300, the openable sealing film 77, which is exposed through theband-shaped space 77-1, defined between the weight member 77 and thelower edge of the adjunct receiving part 77-3 of the base cap member100, is easily cut by the cutting blade 3. As such, because the openablesealing film 777 can be easily cut using only a relatively small force,an old person or a child can easily use the container cap of the presentinvention.

Furthermore, when the cutting blade 3 cuts the openable sealing film777, which is attached to the weight member 77, along the band-shapedspace 77-1, as shown in FIG. 7, the weight member 77 and the openablesealing film 777 are rotated together downwards around the connectionrib 77-2, serving as the hinge, so that the adjunct falls outside theadjunct receiving part 77-3 through the opened band-shaped space 77-1and is added into the contents in the container.

As such, because the openable sealing film 777 is integrally attached tothe weight member 77, when the part of the openable sealing film 777that corresponds to the band-shaped space 77-1 is cut, even if it is cutto shreds, the cut shreds of the openable sealing film 777 maintain thestate in which they are attached to the weight member 77, thuspreventing the cut shreds of the openable sealing film 777 from fallinginto the contents in the container and preventing the user from drinkingforeign substances.

In addition, when cutting the openable sealing film 777, the weightmember 77 is rotated downards along with the openable sealing film 777around the connection rib 77-2 as the hinge. In other words, thanks tothe weight member 77, serving as a weight, the openable sheet issmoothly opened, thereby the adjunct can be easily discharged from theadjunct receiving part 77-3.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, only one connection rib 77-2, whichconnects the weight member 77 to the lower edge of the adjunct receivingpart 77-3, need be provided in the band-shaped space 77-1.Alternatively, several connection ribs 77-2 may be provided at adjacentpositions spaced apart from each other at regular angular intervals.That is, it is preferable that one or more connection ribs 77-2 beselectively provided, as necessary.

As described above, in a container cap according to the presentinvention, an openable sheet, which closes the open lower end of anadjunct receiving part, includes a weight member, which has a diameterless than the inner diameter of the adjunct receiving part such that aband-shaped space is coaxially defined between the weight member and theadjunct receiving part. Furthermore, both the weight member and thelower edge of the adjunct receiving part, which define the band-shapedspace therebetween, are sealed by a separate openable sealing film, suchas an aluminum film, thus providing the superior sealing ability uniqueto aluminum.

In addition, the present invention is constructed such that the adjunctreceiving part is opened by cutting part of the openable sealing film,which is exposed through the band-shaped space defined by the differencebetween the diameter of the weight member and the inner diameter of theadjunct receiving part. Therefore, the adjunct receiving part can beeasily opened by only a relatively small force, so that even childrencan easily use the present invention. In other words, the presentinvention can be easily used without limitation of users.

Furthermore, although the separate openable sealing film, such as analuminum film, is used in the present invention, because the openablesealing film is integrally attached at the central portion thereof tothe weight member, the openable sealing film is prevented from being cutinto shreds, thus fundamentally preventing the user from sufferingdispleasure attributable to the presence of foreign substances whendrinking the contents of the container, thereby ensuring the reliabilityof the product.

Moreover, in the present invention, when the adjunct receiving part isopened to add the adjunct into the contents, the weight member and theopenable sealing film, which are integrated with each other, are rotateddownwards around the connection rib, which serves as a hinge. Thus, theuser can directly observe the process of adding the adjunct into thecontents. Therefore, the present invention stimulates the curiosity ofconsumers, thus arousing consumers' interest.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A container cap allowing addition of an adjunct, and comprising abase cap member, which is a lower cap body coupled to a neck part of acontainer, an operational cap member, which is an upper cap body coupledto an upper end of the base cap member, an openable sheet provided on alower end of one selected from the base cap member and the operationalcap member, the openable sheet being cut to discharge the adjunct, andcutting means for cutting the openable sheet, the cutting means beingprovided in a remaining one selected from the base cap member and theoperational cap member at a position corresponding to the openablesheet, wherein the openable sheet comprises: a weight member having adiameter less than a diameter of an arc part of the openable sheet to becut, with a connection rib connected between the weight member and alower edge of an adjunct receiving part of the base cap member; and anopenable sealing film for sealing both the lower edge of the adjunctreceiving part and the weight member.
 2. The container cap as set forthin claim 1, wherein a band-shaped space is defined between the loweredge of the adjunct receiving part and a circumferential outer edge ofthe weight member, so that a cutting blade of the operational cap memberis moved along the band-shaped space.
 3. The container cap as set forthin claim 2, wherein the connection rib comprises a plurality ofconnection ribs disposed adjacent to each other in the band-shaped spaceto connect the lower edge of the adjunct receiving part and thecircumferential outer edge of the weight member to each other.
 4. Thecontainer cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein the weight membercomprises a weight body having a predetermined weight such that, whenthe openable sheet is cut, the openable sheet is rotated downwardsaround the connection rib, which serves as a hinge.